Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has denied minority bloc allegations that the majority's push to amend Senate rules on remote participation is connected to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano clarified that impeachment and the proposed rules amendment are two separate matters entirely.

He further stressed that what was debated on the Senate floor on May 26 was only whether the motion to amend the rules could be taken up, not the actual substance of Senator Rodante Marcoleta's motion.

"Wala pong katotohanan na yung amendment ng rule na ito ay nakaugnay sa amendment sa rule sa impeachment. Bakit po? Unang-una, in-adopt na po namin yung rules sa impeachment. Pag binago namin yun, ipa-publish pa, tatagal pa po yun. So, ngayon po, ang pinag-uusapan ay rule sa Senado. Wala pong katotohanan yung mga nagpo-post na nagsasabing ito po ay may kilalaman sa impeachment."

(There is no truth to the claim that this rules amendment is connected to the amendment of the impeachment rules. Why? First of all, we have already adopted the rules on impeachment. If we change that, it still needs to be published, and that will take time. So right now, what we are talking about is a Senate rule. There is no truth to what those posting online are saying — that this has something to do with impeachment.)

Cayetano also emphasized that the Senate majority did not violate any chamber rules, contradicting statements made by minority members.